Merseyside Youth Challenge Trust

Charity information

Merseyside Youth Challenge Trust

MYCT is an Outdoor Activity Centre that engages with young people in Liverpool and Greater Merseyside
Open to young people from all backgrounds, over the years the Centre has had approximately 3,500 children and young adults attending per annum. They participate in adventurous, healthy outdoor activities which include archery, climbing and abseiling, hill walking and survival, camping, problem solving and trust exercises, canoeing, nature trails, rope bridges, crate climb, ladder balance, rafting, sailing and more.
The main beneficiaries of the Centre are young people aged between 8 and 25. Many of those who attend come from Citywide Wards which have been identified as being within the 15% most deprived areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Over the past 30 years MYCT has built up a sizeable networking system often working closely with other third sector organisations and training providers throughout Liverpool including LCVS, the Fire & Rescue Service youth engagement team, Merseyside Police, Sportivate, This Girl Can, Connexions,

Youth Groups, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Princes Trust, Pupil Referral Units, Schools, Community Officers, the general public, local community and Primary Care Trusts to name just a few.

‘Merseyside Youth Challenge Trust’ established in 1985 is an urban-based Outdoor Pursuits Education Centre charitable Trust in South Liverpool. Open to young people from all backgrounds the Centre offers structured outdoor adventure training as a medium where personal potential, teamwork and trust may develop. 3,469 children and young adults came for adventurous activities at the Centre in 2007. Activities included archery, climbing and abseiling, hill walking and survival, camping, problem solving and trust exercises, canoeing, nature trails, rope bridges, crate climb, ladder balance, rafting, sailing and dinghy sailing.

The main users of the Centre who benefit are young people aged between 8 and 20. 41% attending are children classed as ‘at risk’ some will have learning or physical disabilities, some will come from pupil referral units or from underprivileged disadvantaged backgrounds and some are socially disaffected.

Merseyside Youth Challenge Trust’s mission is to provide structured outdoor adventure and training to children and young adults from all backgrounds as a medium whereby personal potential, teamwork and trust may develop. We believe that there is a real need for what we do i.e. giving children and young adults the opportunity to experience these activities in their own backyard. We are a hidden oasis in the heart of a major city, and we know we make a positive difference to young people’s lives.
As testament to this, in both 2014 and 2015 MYCT received awards from the High Sheriff of Merseyside in recognition of ‘Great and valuable services to the community’.